Library shelving



2 SheetsSheet l. D. E. HUNTER. LIBRARY SHELVING, STACK, 65c.v

Patented June 7, 1898. 1

llifl lil I 1 9 Z 5 M O .M 6 m 0 N N flea/id liliunherj 2 Sheets-Sheet2.

(No Model.)

D. E.HUNTER. LIBRARY SHELVING, STACK, &c.

No. 605,291. Patented June 7,1898.

I A Q E:

marl/I42 Wz'trwsses: lhvenivr: Q 2 lzwl'dlifiunivl;

.standards.

llrvrrnn STATES P TENT DAVID E. HUNTER,OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIBRARY SHELVINGI, STACK, ac.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,291, dated June 7,1898.

'Application filed January 6, 1898. Serial No. 665,793. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, DAVIDE. HUNTER, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in LibraryShelving, Stacks, &c., of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters onthe'drawings representing like parts. Y

My invention is an improvementin librarystacks and the adjustableshelving thereof, and has for its primary object the provision of astackwhich is economical of material and possesses extreme rigidity,lightness, compactness, and simplicity. V

The details of construction and further advantages of my inventionwillbe more par tioularly explained in the course of the followingdescription and further defined in the accompanying claims, referencebeing bad to the drawings illustrative of a preferred embodiment of myinvention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in elevation a portion of alibrary-stack constructed according to my invention, showing in detailtwo end standards supporting shelves, the latter being shown insection,"the rear floorbeam being broken away to better show the Fig. 2is a transverse horizontal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a central verticalsection on the line 3 3, Fig.1.. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section onthe line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and Fig. 6 a top planview, of afilling-block. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view taken onthe line 7 7, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a rear edge view of a portion of one ofthe standards.

The floor beams or plates A A, herein shown as arranged in pairs andconnected by adjustable brace-rods b and nuts I), may be of any suitableconstruction desired. Suspended by bolts 0 c are sheet-metal standardsD, which constitute a main feature of my invention. These standards areshown in side elevation in Fig. 1, in cross-section in Fig. 2, and inrear elevation in Fig. 4, viewing which it will beseen' that theycomprise a central web cl, preferably corrugated longitudinally, asshown at dfin order to strengthen them, and each having at itsrespective vertical edges a longitudinal projection or bead, hereinshown as a flattened holouts (Z also preferably having flaring mouths orlips d, said notches being offset or enlarged at their lower inner edges61 said offset portion thereof beingin horizontal alinement with thenotches d It will be understood that in case these standards are used tosupport shelves onone side only it will be necessary only to havenotches on one side of the standard, the opposite notches on both sidesof the standards being herein shown for regular library stack purposes,in which shelves S are supported, as indicated in Fig. 2; and also Iwish it understood that while I have herein shown the'stackas bent orformed from sheet metal I am in no wise limited to this material nor toother features of detail otherwise than as expressed in the claimshereinafter.

Gooperatin g with the notches (Z and diabove explained, arelugsd3,projecting from the ends of the shelves, these lugs being hereinshown as extending from clips d", driven into the wood of thes'helf, itbeing supposed in the illustrative embodiment of my invention hereinpresented that wooden shelves are used. 7

When it is desired to remove a shelf S from the standards D, all that isnecessary is to raise the rear edge of the shelf sufficiently todisengage the rear lugs 61 from the ()ffset pordrop by gravity into theoffsets of the rear notches and are held locked therein by the shouldersof said offsets.

The standards D are supported at their upper ends between thefloor-beams A A, being held rigidly therein by filling-blocks 0, (shownin detail in Figs. 4, 5, and 6,) and at their lower ends thestandardsrest loosely between said floor-beams, being held againstanylateral vibration by the upper ends of the filling-blocks O, whichenter them, being reduced in size above the shoulders c in order topermit the standards to freely expand and contract under varyingtemperatures.

In my application Serial No. 613,888 I have shown a constructionembodying fillingblocks, the construction herein shown being animprovement thereon, inasmuch as it maintains the standards inabsolutely true vertical alinement by holding their lower ends be tweenthe floor-beams, which i are tightly clamped on the upper ends of thestandards below, the filling-blocks in the present instance, asexplained, being reduced in size suificiently to prevent anyinterference with Vertical movement and yet serve accurately to maintainthe true vertical alinement required of the standards.

In my before-mentioned application I have shown the floor-beams asspaced a considerable distance apart, whereas in my present applicationI have made a more rigid and com act structure by bringing thefloor-beams toge her, not only thereby clamping the standards with aconsiderable bracing eifect across the width or inner faces of thefloor-beams, but causing said floor-beams to mutually brace each other,filling-rings or separators 6' being provided between the floor-beams attheir ends, where they are clamped together by blocks E E, (shown indetail in Figs. 1, 3, and 7,) the floor-beams preferably beingoverlapped, as shown in Fig. 7, where it will be seen that thecontiguous floor-beams A abut at a and the contiguous floor-beams A abutat a, the respective overlapping floor-beams A A being perforated, asindicated in the sectional view Fig. 3, so as to be held firmly againstendwise movement by a stub-bolt b entering at its respective ends thenuts I), which join the clamping-rods b.

The floor-beams rest on ledges e on the inner faces of the blocks E E,similar ledges 6 being provided adjacent the upper edges of said blocksfor the purpose of supporting vertical posts F, herein shown as made upof two T- irons bolted together.

The blocks E E are provided at their upper and lower sides with angularprojections 6 which form between them pockets or recesses to receive theadjacent ends of the posts F and retain them in proper supportingposition.

From the above description it will be evident to those familiar with theart that the parts are readily put up and taken down, and, because oftheir simplicity and fewness in number, they are not liable to get outof order, are readily repaired, and broken or injured parts may beeasily replaced without disturbing the rest of the stack.

WVhile I have herein shown preferred embodiments of my invention andhave described the details thereof, I wish it understood that I am notlimited thereto, but that many changes in form, proportions, andrelations of parts maybe resorted to within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

By forming the supporting-notches on the rear sides of the projectionsor heads the latter present smooth unobstructed edges for the entranceof the books to the shelves, so that when the books are put upon theshelves there is no possibility of their coming in contact with anyrough edges, and thereby becoming injured.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is 1. A library-standard having adjacent itsvertical edges longitudinal projections rigidly spaced apart and eachprovided with a series of transverse notches in its rear edge, the respective notches of the two projections being in substantial horizontalalinement, and the rear notches having engaging shoulders, said notchesbeing adapted to receive shelf-lugs slid into them horizontally from therear, and locked therein by dropping into engagement with saidshoulders, substantially as described.

2. A library-standard comprising a central web having at its edgeslongitudinal projections or beads, the front projection having a seriesof horizontal notches formed therein on its rear edge at each side ofsaid web, and the rear projection having a series of notches cuttransversely thereof across its rear edge, the latter series of notchescontaining lockingoffsets in their lower sides, substantially asjdescribed. g 8. A library-standard composed of sheet metal rolled overat its opposite vertical edges to form hollow beads or projections, thefront roll having on its opposite sides at the rear part of the rollopposite series of horizontal notches, and the rear roll having at itsrear part and extending into its opposite sides series of horizontalnotches, the said notches having flaring lips at their rear ends for theready reception of shelf-lugs, substantially as described. I

4. A support for library-shelving comprising opposite standards, shelvesto be supported thereby, said shelves having adjacent their four cornersfixed lugs projecting therefrom, and said standards having recesses withopenings at the rear only for the reception of said lugs, whereby ashelf is put in position by forward movement from the rear and isremoved by movement toward the rear, certain of said recesses havingoifsets and shoulders to receive and engage certain of said lugs andlock the shelf in position when properly placed, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a library-stack, a plurality of standards for supporting theshelves, said standards being arranged vertically one above the other,floor-beams in pairs, said standards be ing rigidly clamped at theirupper ends be tween said floor-beams and extending loosely between saidfloor-beams at their lower ends,

lower end of a similar standard placed vertically thereabove,substantially as described.

7. In a library stack, horizontal floorbeams, separators therefor,clamping-blocks engaging said beams on their outer sides, in combinationwith supporting-posts vertically alined,said blocks having verticalprojections at their top and bottom sides to inclose and form pocketsfor the said posts, retaining the latter from relative lateraldisplacement, and

meansto clampsaid blocks andbeams together, substantially as described.

8. In a library stack, horizontal floorbeams, separators therefor,clamping-blocks engaging said beams on their outer sides, said blockshaving inwardly-projecting ledges 'on which said beams may rest, incombination with supporting-posts yertically alined, said "blocks havingvertical projections at their top and bottom sides to inclose and formpockets for the said posts, retaining the latter from relative lateraldisplacement,and means to clamp said blocks and beams together,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID E. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. MAXWELL, EDITH M. STODDARD.

